Sports Medicine Model

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Lesson Plan Industry Sector
Health Science and Medical Technology

Lesson Plan Originally Created By: JJ Jacobsen

Sports Related Concussions

Part of Unit: Head and Face

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to recognize, treat and prevent the 3 grades of concussions.  Students will be able to identify signs and symptoms, demonstrate proper assessment and treatment techniques for athletes suspected of having a concussion or closed head injury.

Sports Related Concussions Assessment & Treatment

1 Class Period (Block)
90 Minutes

Objectives and Goals

Students will be able to recognize, treat and prevent sports related concussions.Students will be able to document and communicate with coaches and parents/guardians.

Activities in this Lesson

  • Have you ever got your "bells rung"? - Hooks / Set

    As students enter the room and are seated, instructor will start a video of clips of athletes sustaining closed head injuries(concussions).  After the video ends the instructor will ask the students if they have ever bumped their head on something.  If they have ever heard the term - having their  "bells rung"?  The instructor will ask them what the commonalities will be in describing the feeling or pain.  Recealling on prior lesson of anatomy and physiology of the head, instructor will ask them to name the anatomy that might be involved in a closed head trauma.

    (Insert athletes sustaining closed head injuries video clips here)

  • What is a concussion? - Lecture

    Over 300,000 sports related traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States every year.  Take a look at what can happen in just a moment that can change a life forever.

    (Insert concussion video here)

    After students watch the vides instructor will give students the following handouts.

    (Insert fact sheet for athletes here)

    (Insert fact sheet for parents here)

    As we read through the content of the handouts, students will review the definition of a concussion, prevention methods and what are the signs and symptoms of a concussion.  As the material is covered, the instructor will answer questions and remind students that all concussions are an injury to the brain and are serious, may or may not show loss of consciousness and can happen in any sport.

  • Practice the Steps - Group Work

    The role of the student trainer who suspects a concussion:

    Step 1: Determine if there is a possible concussion by assessing the athlete for the signs and symptoms found on the fact sheet. 

     

    Let’s now get into pairs and practice what to look for (signs) or what the athlete might tell you (symptoms). 

     

    Step 2: Document your findings. 

     

    Based on your findings apply the needed steps below:

    If you recognize a concussion then…

     

    Step 1: Remove the athlete from the game

    A: Evaluate for the correct grade of concussion and treat accordingly

     

    Grade 1 Concussion

     

    Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and duration of mental status abnormalities of less than 15 minutes.

     

    **The 4 questions used to determine mental status are:

    1. Person - "Can you tell me your name"?

    2. Place: - "Can you tell me where you are"?

    3. Time - "Can you tell me what time of day it is", i.e. morning, noon or night?

    4. Events - "Can you tell me what you were doing prior to your injury'? or "can you tell me what happened"?

     

    Treatment & Management: The athlete should be removed from sports

    activity, examined immediately and at 5-minute intervals, and allowed to return that day to the sports activity only if post concussive symptoms resolve within 15 minutes.

     

    Grade 2 Concussion

     

    Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and duration of mental status abnormalities of greater than or equal to 15 minutes.

     

    Treatment & Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity

    and examined frequently to assess the evolution of symptoms. The athlete should return to sports activity only after asymptomatic for 1 full week.       

     

    Grade 3 Concussion

     

    Definition: Loss of consciousness, either brief (seconds) or prolonged (minutes or longer) and a duration of mental status abnormalities of greater than or equal to 15 minutes.

     

    Treatment &Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity

    for 1 full week if the loss of consciousness is brief or 2 full weeks if the loss of

    consciousness is prolonged. The athlete can only resume activities with a clearance from a professional healthcare provider to resume sports.

     

    Step 2: Ensure that the athlete is evaluated by an appropriate health care professional

     

    Step 3: Inform the athlete’s parents/guardian and coach about the known or possible  concussion and give them a copy of the fact sheet.

     

    Step 4: Based on the grade of concussion and the presenting symptoms allow the athlete to return to play only with permission from an appropriate health care professional.

     

    If there are no apparent signs or symptoms of a concussion, continue to document your assessment and monitor the athlete until the game is over. 

     

    While the students are practicing the skill, the instructor will walk around the room to each group answering questions, giving guidance as needed and checking for understanding.

  • Let's see what you have learned - Closure

    Instructor will pretend to be a victim of a closed head injury and choose students randomly to come up to the front of the class, perform an assessment and if there is a concussion they will state the appropriate grade and treatment.

Assessment

Assessment Types:
Writing Samples,

The assessment will be in the form of a written test that will ask the students to write down the signs and symptoms, definitions and treatment protocols for all 3 grades of concussions.